Are contractors eligible for unemployment benefits in Washington?

What kind of specific situations? I did work exclusively for one client for over a year.

If you were misclassified as a contractor when you should have been an employee, you might have a case. The key factors are things like whether they controlled your work schedule, provided equipment, or treated you like other employees.

It's not that simple. Washington ESD looks at the actual working relationship, not just what the contract says. If you were doing employee-type work but classified as a contractor, you might be able to challenge that classification.

oh wow i had no idea. how would someone even go about challenging that?

How long did the whole process take? And were you able to get benefits?

It took about 6 weeks total including the investigation. I did end up getting approved but only after providing tons of documentation about my work arrangement. The hardest part was actually getting someone on the phone at Washington ESD to walk me through what they needed.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr that helps people get through to ESD agents. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to discuss your contractor situation with someone.

That's really helpful! I definitely didn't meet the 'A' part - they controlled my schedule and required me to use their software and systems.

That sounds like potential misclassification then. You should definitely apply and let Washington ESD investigate. They'll look at all the facts of your working relationship.

You're right that some companies do misclassify workers to avoid costs. That's exactly why Washington has these protections in place to investigate questionable classifications.

It's frustrating but at least Washington ESD will investigate if you file a claim. Better than some states where contractors have zero options.

Good point. Is there any downside to filing if I'm not sure I'm eligible?

No downside to filing. If they determine you're not eligible, you'll just get a denial letter. But if you don't file, you'll never know if you might have qualified.

You put the company that hired you as a contractor as your 'employer' and let Washington ESD sort out the classification issue. Include the dates you worked and how much you earned.

ok that makes sense. i was worried there would be some special contractor application or something

Wait, contractors can pay into the unemployment system voluntarily?

Yes, Washington has an elective coverage program for certain types of workers including some contractors. You'd need to check with ESD about the specific requirements.

That's really smart. I should gather all my emails and contract documents before I file.

Definitely do that. And if you need help explaining your situation to Washington ESD, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier might be useful. I used it last month to get through to an ESD agent about my adjudication issue.

Rideshare drivers are a special case - there have been ongoing legal battles about their classification. Rules may have changed since you last checked.

yeah this was like 2 years ago. maybe worth another shot

How much does that service cost? Sounds too good to be true.

I don't want to focus on cost, but the value was definitely worth it for me. Saved me hours of being on hold and getting disconnected. The peace of mind alone was worth it.

Oh wow, that's scary. So they can make you pay benefits back if they change their mind?

Only if you weren't actually eligible in the first place. But that's why it's important to be honest about your work situation when you file.

Thanks everyone! This has been super helpful. I'm going to gather my documentation and file a claim this week.

Good luck! Remember to be detailed about your work relationship when you file. The more information you provide, the better they can evaluate your case.

Yeah, I'm prepared for it to take time. At least now I know it's worth trying instead of just assuming I'm not eligible.

Great advice! I'll make sure to be very clear about that when I file my claim.

And if you need to discuss this with someone at ESD, definitely consider using that Claimyr service. Complex classification issues really benefit from talking to an actual person who understands the nuances.